By: Andrew Lacy Posted at: 04/05/2013 01:59 PMDENVER (AP) — The Denver Nuggets will be without versatile forward Danilo Gallinari for the rest of the season after tests Friday showed he tore his left ACL against Dallas the previous night.

The team said Gallinari will have season-ending surgery soon and "a prognosis for a full recovery is excellent."

Gallinari planted his left leg awkwardly while driving past Dirk Nowitzki for a layup in the first half of Denver's 95-94 win. His knee buckled and he went down, screaming in pain.

The Nuggets sent him for an MRI on Friday and it confirmed their fears of a serious injury that will require a long rehabilitation.

The 24-year-old Gallinari averaged 16.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 71 games this season for Denver, which has clinched a playoff berth.